Inca Gold (Dirk Pitt 12)

"They're in a packing crate inside the cargo hold of the airplane." Zolar glanced admiringly at the quesadilla that was placed in front of him on a plate. "I had hoped you would greet me with good news."

"You can't say we haven't tried," replied Moore. "We've examined every rock that sticks out of the sea from the Colorado River south to Cabo San Lucas, and haven't seen anything remotely resembling a stone demon with wings and a serpent's head."

"I hate to bring more grim tidings," Sarason said to Zolar, "but we met up with my friends who messed things up in Peru."

Zolar looked at him, puzzled. "Not those two, devils from NUMA?"

"The same. As incredible as it sounds, I believe they're after Huascar's gold too."

"I'm forced to agree," said Oxley. "Why else did they pop up in the same area?"

"Impossible for them to know something we don't," said Zolar.

"Perhaps they've been following you," said Micki, holding up her glass as Henry poured her wine.

Oxley shook his head. "No, our amphibian has twice the fuel range of their helicopter."

Moore turned to Zolar. "My wife may have something. The odds are astronomical that it was a chance encounter."

"How do we handle it?" Samson asked no one in particular.

Zolar smiled. "I think Mrs. Moore has given us the answer."

"Me?" wondered Micki. "All I suggested was--"

"They might have been following us." So.

Zolar looked at her slyly. "We'll begin by requesting our mercenary friends in local law enforcement to begin earning their money by launching an investigation to find our competitor's base of operations. Once found, we'll follow them."

Darkness was only a half hour away when Giordino set the helicopter down neatly within the white circle painted on the loading deck of the Alhambra. The deckhands, who simply went by the names of Jesus and Gato, stood by to push the craft inside the cavernous auto deck and tie it down.

Loren and Gunn were standing outside the sweep of the rotor blades. When Giordino cut the ignition switch, they stepped forward. They were not alone. A man and a woman moved out of the shadow of the ferry's huge superstructure and joined them.

"Any luck?" Gunn shouted above the diminishing beat of the rotors at Giordino who was leaning out the open window of the cockpit.

Giordino replied with a thumbs-down.

Pitt stepped from the helicopter's passenger door and knitted his thick, black eyebrows in surprise. "I didn't expect to see you two again, certainly not here."

Dr. Shannon Kelsey smiled, her manner coolly dignified, while Miles Rodgers pumped Pitt's hand in a genuine show of friendliness. "Hope you don't mind us popping in like this," said Rodgers.

"Not at all. I'm glad to see you. I assume you've all introduced yourselves to each other."

"Yes, we've all become acquainted. Shannon and 1 certainly didn't expect to be greeted by a congresswoman and the assistant director of NUMA."

"Dr. Kelsey has regaled me with her adventures in Peru," said Loren in a voice that was low and throaty. "She's led an interesting life."

Giordino exited the helicopter and stared at the newcomers with interest. "Hail, hail, the gang's all here," he said in greeting. "Is this a reunion or an old mummy hunters' convention?"

"Yes, what brings you to our humble ferry in the Sea of Cortez?" asked Pitt.

"Government agents requested Miles and me to drop everything in Peru and fly here to assist your search," answered Shannon.

Pitt looked at Gunn. "Government agents?"

Gunn made a know-nothing shrug and held up a piece of paper. "The fax informing us of their arrival came an hour after they showed up in a chartered boat. They insisted on waiting to reveal the purpose of their visit until you returned."

"They were Customs agents," Miles enlightened Pitt. "Th